The Dardanelles

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 41, 24 January 1916, Page 6

The Dardanelles

THE LAST OF GALLIPOLI. MEMORABLE PACE IN BRITISH HISTORY. The following is a "special" from the New Zealand war corre'poudent at Cairo, dated 22nd Unitary on Ihe Cape Helles evacuation: - After the Anzaj: and Suvla evacuation, the Turks were more keenly on the alert, and the operations were regarded as more difficult. Once again, however, brilliant British generalship completely outpointed the enemy. Operations lasted from 29th December to Bth January, and though hampered by bad weather they were a remarkable success. Unlike the position at Anzac there was no moon, and they were carried out in complete darkness. After Suvla and Anzac. the Turkish gun-fire on Cape Helles greatly increased, and was one intensive bombardment, of our trenches, being the heaviest of the whole campaign. Turkish aeroplanes were also enterprising. They took unusual risks, and came over in twos and threes. Several duels occurred in the air. Enemy guns from Asia maintained a desultory bombardment. HSid the gunners known what was taking place under cover of darkness they could have done great damage, but they missed their opportunity. The French forces were taken away first, and during Inst

week no French remained astiore ex

cept the gunners and a French hentfi ( party. On the last night the British

had still seven thousand men ishore and about fifty guns. General Birdwood came over in the morning aid had a look around, and the same strategenis were adopted as at Anzac. men leaving trenches m Matches, so

that in t"e early morning tlie trout

line was very turn, and "el<t by men WHO moved up and down, tiring from vacated loopiioles. Hie final shots were fired by mechanical guns. Rules were fixed in embrasures, and water was left dropping from one jam tin into another nxed to the trigger, so that when a certain weight aeeumI lated, the water gun went off. Detouateis fired by burning candles and Verrey pistols were also fired by the water dodge, and added to the illusion that our trenches were still strongly held, though, not one remained in them. The Verrey pistols fired and rocked, which made the Turks think we were about to attack. The final scenes were thrilling and picturesque. Great fires ot j petrol stock stores suddenly burst forth on three beaches and at the Lancashire landing, the magazines. containing ten tons of explosives broke the stillness with a trenmendou.s roar, making a scene of appalling grandeur as they hurled flame and great masses of material high into the darkness. This showed the. Turks that the evacuation was proceeding and immediately the ships in the Aegean saw a row,of red lights spring up all along th e Turkish trenches this being their signal that the British were leaving. The enemy, however, made the same mistake as at Suvla and Anzac in thinking that only half j were evacuated, and they violently. shelled our second line and the beaches, but by this time everyone had departed and the gun s and horses not evacuated had been destroyed and killed. The fires burned for twentyfour • hours. On the following day piquet boats with dropping gear went in and torpedoed the River Clyde of immortal memory, and the old French battleship Massend, which were sunk by our Allies as a breakwater. Thus ended one of the most memorable pages in British history.